title: Pentoxifylline Protects the Rat Liver Against Fibrosis and Apoptosis Induced by Acute Administration of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is one of the most popular drugs of abuse in the world with hallucinogenic properties that has been shown to induce apoptosis in liver cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on liver damage induced by acute administration of MDMA in Wistar rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were administered with saline or MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) 3 times with 2 hr intervals. PTX (200 mg kg, IP), was administered simultaneously with last injection of MDMA in experimental group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concomitant administration of pentoxifylline and MDMA decreased liver injury including apoptosis, fibrosis and hepatocytes damages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed for the first time that PTX treatment diminishes the extent of apoptosis and fibrosis caused by MDMA in rat liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Islamic Azad University Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Movassaghi
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nadia Sharifi
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
keywords: Apoptosis; Fibrosis; Liver; MDMA; Pentoxifylline